G.—6.

2

In addition to the works carried out near the village, it became necessary, owing to the encroachment of the river at the upper point of the property, to undertake the protection of the hanks at the place marked A on plan B herewith, reference to whicli will show the direction which the river threatened to take, as indicated by the strip coloured blue. Had the river once forced its way in that direction it would have resulted in the ultimate destruction of the farms between the creek and the river, comprising an aggregate area of 215 acres. 'With the consent of the Native owners, works have- been carried out there which, it is hoped, will ward off the threatened danger. Those groins have been thrown out, as indicated on plan C, to deflect the river into its original channel; and it is further proposed to construct a short embankment between the two lower groins. This work has cost £243 14b., inclusive of the sum of £72 12s. Gd. contributed, in the shape of gratuitous labour, by the tenants on the reserve and the owners of the land to the rear of the Native property, whose holdings were jeopardized by the threatened encroachment The Arahaura Reserve, owing to it being so much at the mercy of the river, will always prove a very expensive property to conserve ; and there is every reason to dread, from the quantity of snow that has fallen on the main ranges during the winter months, that a considerable deal of additional damage will be done to it during the ensuing summer, even if the permanency of the works already constructed is not seriously imperilled. . I have, &c, Alexander Mack at, The Under Secretary, Native Department, Wellington. Commissioner.

STATEMENT of the Receipts and Expenditure of the Nelson Native Reserve Fund, from the 1st July, 1877, to the 30th June, 1878.

Receipts. £ s. d. £ s. d. "uly, 1877. To Balance on hand ... Kents collected as under, — Kelson Mouteve and Motucka ... Westport Loans repaid ... 793 7 5 624 15 1 174 5 1 4 8 0 45 9 9 1,596 15 6 Total £1,642 5 3 £1,642 5 3 Expenditure. Amounts expended for Natives, — By Pa/visions and clolbiug, &e. Implements, &c. Harness, &c. Funeral expenses Buildings aud repairs Passages Fuel and potatoes Medic:d attendance, &o. ... Salary, schoolmaster, Waknpuaka school Kent paid to Natives Plans... Commission, collecting rents Printing Stationery Bates... Travelling expenses Miscellaneous expenses ... £ s. d. 279 9 11 20 19 0 26 7 6 12 5 0 77 10 9 72 12 9 21 17 4 45 15 6 50 0 0 105 10 0 1 17 6 r,8 8 0 12 5 9 7 18 1 6 18 0 18 7 6 27 16 2 £, s. d. 712 7 9 133 11 0 Total expenditure out of imprests upplementary amounts paid by Treasury,— JlJv Commissioner's salary, 11 months ... Secretary „ 9 „ ... Interpreter „ 9 „ Medical Officer, Motueka, 9 „ „ Takaka, 6 „ Queen Charlotte Sound, 7 „ „ Wairau, 9 ,, Sclioolinaster, Wairau, 6 „ 206 5 0 37 10 0 30 0 0 37 10 0 15 0 0 29 3 4 37 10 0 30 0 0 845 18 9 422 18 4 Total expenditure Balance to credit 1,268 17 1 373 8 2 1,268 17 1 373 8 2 £1,642 5 3